Path of Exile 2 developer Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has responded to the community's backlash against the Dawn of the Hunt update with a series of emergency changes. The update, which was released earlier this month, introduced the new Huntress class, five new ascension classes, mechanical overhauls, over a hundred new unique items, and expanded crafting options. However, it also included significant nerfs that slowed down the game's pace, leading to overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam.
The community's primary complaint was that the game had become a "total slog" due to these changes. Players felt that boss fights were unnecessarily prolonged, skills were underpowered, and the overall gameplay experience was frustrating. The sentiment was echoed in several of the most helpful reviews on Steam, which highlighted issues such as slow movement, large map sizes, forced combo gameplay, and reduced loot drops.
In response, GGG has released patch notes for update 0.2.0e, set to be deployed on April 11. The patch addresses a range of concerns, focusing on monster speed, boss mechanics, player minion changes, crafting, and performance improvements.
Path of Exile 2 Update 0.2.0e Patch Notes
------------------------------------------Monster Speed Changes
GGG has tackled the issue of players feeling overwhelmed by monsters. Key changes include:
- Removal of interrupt events for certain human monsters, allowing players more time to engage and use skills.
- The Haste Aura modifier no longer applies to fast monsters.
- Specific adjustments to monster behavior in Acts 1, 2, and 3, reducing their speed and density in various locations.
Boss Changes
Boss fights have been a major point of contention, and GGG has made the following adjustments:
- Reduced the number and size of Chaos Rains in the Viper Napuatzi fight.
- Changes to Uxmal's fight mechanics to make it less frustrating, including fewer location changes and reduced use of Flame Breath.
- Enhanced visibility in Xyclucian's arena by removing ground foliage.
Player Minion Changes
Minion mechanics have been refined to improve gameplay:
- Adjusted revive timers to prevent long delays when multiple minions die.
- Disenchanting certain gems now unbinds them for reuse.
- Tamed beasts can now navigate through gaps accessible to players.
Other Player Balance
Additional tweaks to player skills and mechanics include:
- Expanded the use of Rally support to all melee attacks.
- Fixed issues with Glory consumption and Ritualist's Blood Boils propagation.
Crafting Changes
Crafting options have been enhanced:
- Added new mods to runes for caster weapons.
- Introduced a new feature at Renly's shop in the Burning Village for elemental rune crafting.
Performance Improvements
To enhance the overall gaming experience, GGG has optimized ground foliage in various areas.
0.2.0E Deployment Timeline
The 0.2.0e patch will be deployed at around 10AM NZT. GGG has also mentioned additional changes planned for after the weekend, including:
Charm Changes
Charm functionality is being revamped to make them more useful and easier to manage:
- Charm slots on belts will now be granted by implicit mods, with the number of slots determined by the belt's level and rerollable with Divine Orbs.
- Enhancements to charm effectiveness and fixes to ensure they protect players from activating hits.
Stash Tab Affinities
New stash tab affinities will be introduced for various item categories, including Socketables, Fragments, Breach, Expedition, and Ritual items. Charms will also be storable in Flask tabs or any tab with Flask affinity.
Atlas Bookmarks
A new feature allowing players to bookmark up to 16 locations on their atlas for easy navigation, with icons and optional labels.
The question remains whether these changes will be sufficient to address the community's concerns and restore a positive atmosphere around Path of Exile 2. Despite the backlash, the game's launch was a success, with a high number of players, though this has posed additional challenges for GGG, impacting even the development of Path of Exile 1.
